A Memphis carjacking that started with a woman airing up a tire on South Third Street ended with a violent head injury, a wrecked car, and now a long federal prison term.
Martavious Wilson, 20, has been sentenced to nearly 11 years in federal prison for the attack, which happened last year. Prosecutors say Wilson and an accomplice walked up to the woman as she was tending to her tire, pointed a gun at her, and demanded her vehicle. The woman was struck in the head with the firearm before Wilson took off in her car, crashed into a pole, and was arrested by Memphis police after the wreck.
Feds Drop Heavy Time In Carjacking Case
Federal prosecutors announced the sentence on March 10 and emphasized how seriously they treat gun violence in street crimes, according to FOX13 Memphis. Wilson was convicted in federal court of carjacking and firearm charges that carry mandatory consecutive penalties. Prosecutors said the outcome is part of a broader push to take armed offenders off Memphis streets.
Prosecutors Say Wilson Is Paying The Price
“Wilson will pay a heavy price with over a decade in federal prison,” U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, according to FOX13 Memphis. In court, prosecutors laid out how Wilson and another man approached the victim in 2024 while she was at the curb, pointed a gun at her, demanded her keys, and then hit her with the weapon before driving off. After Wilson crashed the stolen vehicle into a pole, Memphis police tracked the car and took him into custody, evidence that was presented at sentencing.
Mandatory Minimums Drove The Prison Time
Federal law requires mandatory minimum sentences when a firearm is used during a crime of violence, a factor that significantly increased Wilson’s punishment. That mandatory-minimum framework is outlined by Congress.gov. Because there is no parole in the federal system and good-conduct credits are limited, defendants generally serve most of their sentence, according to the U.S. Courts.
Memphis Feds Target Armed Street Robberies
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has been increasingly bringing federal charges in armed carjacking cases across Memphis, coordinating with ATF and Memphis Police in cases that involve guns, according to recent press releases from the office. Prosecutors argue that stacking federal charges with consecutive firearm penalties is essential to deterring violent street robberies and keeping repeat gun offenders off the street. Victim advocates say sentences like Wilson’s highlight just how dangerous routine errands can become when a gun is introduced and how much steeper the penalties are when that line is crossed.
